Posted on 10/15/2009 11:45:55 AM PDT by Arec Barrwin
Rescuers are tracking and chasing a "homemade flying saucer" that is in flight with a 6-year-old, by himself, on board.
The incident started this morning in Fort Collins when the boy got into the balloon-like device, which was built by an adult, and it came loose from a tether, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
The contraption could rise as high as 10,000 feet, the sheriff's office said.
The home-made flying saucer was last seen in flight over Weld County.
The sheriff's office is working the Federal Aviation Administration to determine how to best get the boy down.
The homemade airplane was tethered in Fort Collins when the boy got onboard and it floated away. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)
The six-year-old boy was by himself on board the hommade aircraft. (Courtesy Lisa Ecklund, via 9News)
The craft could fly as high as 10,000 feet, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office. (Lisa Ecklund via 9News)
And they are reporting that it appears to be about 1/3 of its original size so it is deflating.
The balloon is expected in metro area Denver within the hour. They’re beginning to worry about buildings, trees, hire wires, and freeways should the balloon begin to descend. They cannot put a helicopter over the balloon because the wind would suck the balloon up into the blades. (OMG)
“It’s not a hoax, we’re looking at it on live television.”
Clearly there’s a craft, but it would have o be huge to carry a 6 YO. It would take almost 500 24 inch latex balloons to lift 100 pounds.
Remember the ground is at around 5.
It looks like it is deflating more on the one side and flying at an odd angle — it keeps spinning.
You see this yet? Prayers for the little boy.
It's not moving fast. The news helicopter is circling it, using a long zoom lens, making it appear as if the balloon is moving quickly.
Do we know if there are multiple gas cells. If there are four cells and one is deflated that could be great news. A nice slow landing. But if there is only one big cell with a big leak then he is going to keep venting gas until he hits the ground hard.
Fox says this thing was like an ad balloon to be tied to a store or something. Bottom made of very thin plywood. Never meant for humans to be in there.
Switched to Weather Channel. A lot less hysterical than lil shep
It looks like it may be 2000 above ground level, which would be about 7K above sea level in the area.
It looks like it may be 2000 above ground level, which would be about 7K above sea level in the area.
/johnny
6-Year-Old Trapped in Runaway Balloon Over Denver: Watch Live:
http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=4&openAIR=true
More info here:
http://www.foxnews.com/
They can only hope it deflates enough to come down in an uninhabited area. There is literally nothing else anybody can do.
It is huge. It’s a big balloon. A lot bigger than a clutch of fair balloons.
It looks like Air Force PJs (Pararescue Jumpers) will be on the ANG helicopters. I thought they would send a team from Kirtland in NM. The PJs are uniquely qualified for this type of in-air rescue. Their motto: We do these things “That others may live”.
2K: I think you’re right. The 8K ft they are using is probably “Mean Sea Level” and the terrain in that area is 5.5K MSL, so roughly 2K above ground level...
If it continues on its current track it should come down way east of Denver - hopefully in open country.
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